Recirculated self-heating air delivery system to warm the body

ABSTRACT

A conduit for delivering warm air to the body with a multiplicity of warm air delivery holes arrayed along extensive tubing down extending over the arms and legs of the wearer. The warm air is derived from the user&#39;s expired air as one exhales into a coupler that fits the mouth of a human or coupled to an over the nose and mouth facemask. The exhaled air travels through the mouthpiece or mask and into the tubing to be delivered to the extremities through air dispersion holes arrayed along and around the tubing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to thermal heating devices for outdoor wear. The warm air delivery system of the present invention provides a warmed air thermal protective layer between the exterior weather protection garments and the street clothes of the user, which insulates the human from the exterior weather and maintains a heated thermal barrier. The invention uses a multiplicity of air delivery holes along a network of tubing with an inlet to the tubing delivery system forming a coupler to fit the mouth of a human, or an over the nose and mouth face mask, to achieve its goal.

Hunters, construction workers, motorcycle riders, snowmobilers, and other outdoor enthusiasts often are exposed to cold weather for prolonged periods of time. Ideally the user would be someone who is outside in temperatures of 20° F. or below for an extended period of time. A self-heating source must be readily available and must be easily and quickly slipped on to avoid losing excess body heat. This invention relates to a self-heating source which meets these requirements and does not need any additional device to produce the heat, while being portable, easy to manufacture, and includes a mask to protect the face of the user from harsh conditions and warm the extremities of the body.

Creating heat without an artificial source has been difficult to achieve in the past. Earlier devices provided electrical heat through the use of batteries that would send heat into a garment through a network of wires located within the fabric of the garment. Other devices provided heat by supplying warmed water through channels within a garment or an attached apparatus that pushed warmed air through channels within a garment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,295 [Roehr] describes a hot air producing apparatus which pumps hot air into a garment supplied by acquiring heated air from adjacent an internal combustion engine exhaust system. One drawback of this apparatus is that it requires the user to position the inlet of the article of clothing adjacent to an internal combustion engine exhaust system. Additionally, the apparatus requires the use of an article of clothing that has a hot air-duct system comprising a plurality of air ducts with an air inlet with a line connected to the heat producing apparatus. This device requires the production of heat solely from an external source. Moreover, another drawback is that the device is not easily portable and cannot be easily worn over street clothes.

Another prior apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,812 [Betts] describing a garment with channels between two layers of fabric used for heating the body by continuous circulation of a fluid, i.e., hot water, supplied from a suitable source, such as a hot water reservoir in the immediate vicinity of the user, or a heater located above the surface of the water, e.g., on a boat. The drawbacks to this invention are that it requires an additional source of heat from a remote location. Additionally, the device requires a heating fluid requiring additional energy to heat such fluid, which fluid is delivered from a remote location. Moreover, this device can only be used with the garment provided such that it cannot be used attached to other garments because the channels are contained within the fabric of the garment.

Yet another prior apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,000,682 [Chambers] discloses a garment with channel segments that uses a fluid supplied by a conditioning unit to control the temperature of the fluid that is circulated within the channels. The drawbacks to this invention are that it also needs a remote heating or cooling source. Additionally, it uses water that is either heated or cooled remotely to circulate in the garment and does not use air produced by the user. Moreover, this device can only be used with the garment provided such that it cannot be used by attaching it to other garments because the channels are contained within the fabric of the garment.

Still another prior apparatus is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,200 [Kushnir] that describes a garment with a fluid flow path between two inner layers of the garment and inlet and outlet pipes that are connected to a heat transfer liquid control and circulation device, which external device provides the heated liquid to the flow path to circulate within the garment. The drawbacks to this apparatus are that it requires an additional source of heat from a remote location. Additionally, it requires hot water from the remote location and does not use warmed air produced by the user. Moreover, this device is not easily portable and cannot be worn over street clothes.

One prior apparatus uses exhaled air of the wearer to warm a garment. U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,698 [Smith] describes a one piece rain suit with a mask removably attached which allows exhaled air to be directed through the mask to the interior of the rain suit to warm the interior of the rain suit. The drawbacks of this invention are that the valve and tubing arrangement connected to the mask do not extend beyond the area at the top of the user's chest such that there are no air delivery tubes that extend outward to the extremities to warm them. Moreover, this device can only be used with the garment provided such that it cannot be used with other garments.

Therefore, a need exists for a portable warm air delivery system for the body that does not need remote or artificial sources of heat and allows the user to create the heat from exhaled air to warm the extremities of the body. A need also exists for a warmed air thermal protective layer that will insulate a human from adverse external environments and be capable of fitting over one's street clothes and under one's outer weather protection clothes in order to maintain a heated thermal barrier. Additionally, a need exists for a portable warm air delivery system for the body that uses a mask to protect the unprotected face and nasal cavities in extreme weather conditions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a portable warm air delivery system for the body that allows the user to create heat from exhaled air and deliver the self-warmed air to the extremities of the body through the use of a multiplicity of air delivery holes along an extensive network of tubing which extends outward from the central core of the user. The air delivery holes are arrayed along and about the circumference of the length of the tubing. The tubing is connected together at various junctions along its length and capped at its ends. The tubing has a neck loop which self-attaches below the chin for supporting the upper section of the air delivery tubes along the upper body of the user. The tubing extends downward and outward along the length of each leg and branches out to go down each arm of the user with an inlet to the warmed air delivery system in the form of a coupler to fit the mouth of a human, or as an over the nose and mouth face mask.

The warm air derived from the user's exhaled breath is captured into a coupler that fits the mouth of a human, or into an over the nose and mouth face mask, traveling through the mouth piece or mask and into a network of tubing to be delivered to the extremities through the air dispersion holes arrayed along the length of the tubing. The tubing is temporarily fastened to the body extremities by a series of self-adjusting hook and loop fasteners located at various locations along the length of the tubing. This limited attachment allows for an adjustable fit to accommodate a multitude of users of differing heights, weights and body shapes.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a portable warm air delivery system for the body that does not require remote sources of heat and allows the user to create the heat from exhaled air, which air temperature is at the approximate core body temperature of 98.6° F., to warm the extremities of the user's body. The warm air delivery system provides a warmed air thermal protective layer between the exterior weather protection garments and the street clothes of the user, which insulates the human from the exterior weather and maintains a heated thermal barrier. This device is designed to be used by any person who spends an extended period of time outside in temperatures of 20° or below.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable warm air delivery system that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, relatively light weight and comfortable for the user. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable warm air delivery system that creates a warmed air thermal protective layer that will insulate a human from any harsh exterior environmental conditions and which fits easily over the user's street clothes and under their outer weather protection clothes in order to maintain a heated thermal barrier. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable warm air delivery system that will remain effective regardless whether the user is standing, sitting, or lying down.

Other features and advantages of the invention are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view that shows the warm air delivery system over the user's street clothes with a full facemask.

FIG. 2 is also a diagrammatic view that shows the warm air delivery system in phantom under the user's outer weather protection clothing with a full facemask

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the warm air delivery system showing a junction point for the upper body and an adjustable fastening means

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the warm air delivery system showing a junction point for the lower extremities.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the facemask with a portion of the delivery tubing for exhaling and inhaling flaps on each side of the mask.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the alternate mouthpiece with a portion of the delivery tubing for exhaling.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a vest-like garment for supporting the warm air delivery system shown in phantom along one side of the front of the garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention is a portable warm air delivery system for the body that allows the user to create heat from exhaled air and deliver the self-warmed air to the extremities of the body through the use of a multiplicity of air delivery holes along an extensive network of tubing. The warm air delivery system provides a warmed air thermal protective layer between the exterior weather protection garments and the street clothes of the user, which insulates the human from the exterior weather and maintains a heated thermal barrier.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, a preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The warm air delivery system 10 has a network of tubing 12 that connects to a over the nose and mouth facemask 18 and extends outward to the extremities of the body. The tubing 12 contains a multitude of air delivery holes 14 arrayed around and along the tubing 12, which permit the exhaled self-warmed air of the user to travel to the extremities of the body. The tubing 12 is connected together as a network by a plurality of junction points 20 located along the upper chest and just below the waist. The tubing 12 is attached to the user's body by a plurality of self-adjusting hook and loop fasteners 22, which are positioned and engaged to hold the tubing 12 to the user's extremities at the various points of attachment shown in FIG. 1. At the distal ends of the tubing 12 there are included end caps 24 that terminate the tubing 12 at the ankle and wrist of each extremity. The system 10 has a neck loop 26 that attaches at the upper junction point 20 for the upper body and hangs around the neck of the user to support the system 10 in proper position.

The warm air delivery system 10 of the present invention is shown in phantom, as it would appear under the outer clothing 30 in FIG. 2. The network of tubing 12 is held in place by the neck loop 26 and is held against the street clothes under the outer clothes 30 of the user by a plurality of self-adjusting hook and loop fasteners 22. The mouth face mask 18 allows the user to exhale into the mask 18 and allows the air to travel down into the tubing 12 through the upper and lower junction points 20 and disperse and travel to the user's extremities creating a thermal protective layer of warmed air between the exterior weather protection garments 30 and the street clothes of the user, which will serve to insulate the user from the exterior adverse weather while maintaining a heated thermal barrier. The warmed exhaled air is contained within the system 10 by end caps 24 at each end point of the tubing 12.

An enlarged view of one of the upper and lower junction points 20 and the branching of the tubing 12 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. Air dispersing holes 14 are arrayed all along the tubing 12 in a multiplicity of locations and positions. Also shown in FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the self-adjusting hook and loop fasteners 22, which fit over the street clothing of the user and around one of the user's upper extremities to hold the tubing 12 in place against the user's body.

The nose and mouth facemask 18, as shown in an enlarged form in FIG. 5, protects the face of the user from harsh conditions. Additionally, the mask 18 allows for exhaled air to pass down into the tubing 12 and contains inlet air flaps 28 on each side of the mask 18 to allow the user to breath in outside air.

Another inlet to the warmed air delivery system 10 is available in the form of a coupler 16 to fit the mouth of a human, as shown in FIG. 6. The warm air derived from the user's exhaled breath is captured into the coupler 16 that fits the mouth of the user, and traveling through the mouthpiece into a network of tubing 12 to be delivered to the extremities of the user's body.

The warm air delivery system 10 can be mounted to and held in place against the user's body by a vest type garment 32 as shown in FIG. 7. The tubing 12 and an upper junction point 20 for the upper body is shown in phantom under the vest-like garment 32 of FIG. 7. The tubing 12 may be attached in any known fashion to the vest 32 such that it can be joined together for use once the vest 32 is placed in a wearing position onto a user.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A portable system for delivering self-warmed air to the extremities of a user's body through the use of a multiplicity of air delivery holes arrayed along and around an extensive network of tubing extending outward from the central core of the user to the extremities providing a warmed air thermal protective layer between the exterior weather protection garments and the street clothes of the user, insulating the user from the exterior weather and maintaining a heated thermal barrier.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the air delivery tubing is connected together as a network by a plurality of junction points located along the upper chest and just below the waist and terminated by end caps at the distal ends of the tubing at the distal points of the extensions at the ankle and wrist of extremities of the user.
 3. The portable system of claim 1, having a neck loop extending about the neck of the user which self-attaches below the chin for supporting the upper section of the air delivery tubes of the portable self-warmed air delivery system along the upper body of the user.
 4. The portable system of claim 1, having self adjusting hook and loop fasteners arrayed at multiple locations along the air delivery tubing positioned and engagable to secure and retain the air delivery tubing to the extremities of the user at various points of attachment.
 5. The portable system of claim 1, wherein the network of tubing connects to a means for providing self-warmed air emanating from at least one of the breathing orifices of the user.
 6. The portable system of claim 5, wherein the means for providing self-warmed air being an over the nose and mouth facemask.
 7. The portable system of claim 5, wherein the means for providing self-warmed air being a nasal air tube for catching exhaled air from the nose of a user.
 8. The portable system of claim 5, wherein the means for providing self-warmed air being a mouthpiece that fits into the mouth of the user and allows the user's exhaled breath to travel throughout the network of tubing to be delivered to the extremities of the user's body.
 9. A system for delivering self-warmed air to the extremities of the body of a user through a multiplicity of air delivery holes arrayed along and around an extensive network of tubing having a nose and mouth facemask that protects the face of the user from harsh conditions and allows for exhaled air to pass into the network of tubing.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the facemask contains inlet air flaps to allow the user to breath in outside air.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the air delivery tubing is connected together as a network by a plurality of junction points located along the upper chest and just below the waist and terminated by end caps at the distal ends of the tubing at the distal points of the extensions at the ankle and wrist of extremities of the user.
 12. The portable system of claim 8, having self adjusting hook and loop fasteners arrayed at multiple locations along the air delivery tubing positioned and engagable to secure and retain the air delivery tubing to the extremities of the user at various points of attachment.
 13. A system for delivering self-warmed air to the extremities of the body through the use of a multiplicity of air delivery holes along and around an extensive network of tubing, said network of tubing receiving said self-warmed air through a coupler inlet to the air delivery system having a tube and mouthpiece that fits into the mouth of the user and allows the user's exhaled breath to be captured in the coupler and travel throughout the network of tubing to be delivered to the extremities of the user's body.
 14. The system of claim 13, having self adjusting hook and loop fasteners arrayed at multiple locations along the air delivery tubing positioned and engagable to secure and retain the air delivery tubing to the extremities of the user at various points of attachment.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the air delivery tubing can be mounted to and held in place against the user's body by a vest like garment.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the tubing may be attached in any known fashion to the vest like garment such that the tubing can be joined together for use once the garment is placed in a wearing position onto a user. 